This Week In Cubs History – 02/11/07

Another week closer to the 2007 season….pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park on Wednesday. This was the week the Cubs traded Bill Madlock in 1977, Carlos Zambrano avoided arbitration a year ago, Keith Moreland was traded for Goose Gossage, Ken Hubbs was killed, King Kelly was sold to Boston and the face of baseball’s steroid controversy was given a name.

Let’s step into the ‘Way Back Machine’….

February 11

2006 – The Cubs signed Carlos Zambrano to a 1-year, $6.5 million dollar deal and avoided arbitration. Zambrano had asked for $7.2 million after making $3.76 million in 2005, the Cubs had offered $6 million.

1993 – The Angels signed Scott Sanderson (1984-1989)

1977 – The Cubs traded Bill Madlock (1974-1976) the National League Batting Champion in 1975 and 1976 and Rob Sperring (1974-1976) to the Giants for Bobby Murcer (197701979), Steve Ontiveros (1977-1980) and Minor League Pitcher, Andy Muhlstock. Madlock had hit .339 for the Cubs in 1976, which at the time tied him with Riggs Stephenson (1926-1934) for the All-Time Cubs’ leader in Batting Average. (Bill Buckner (1977-1984) hit .324 in 1980 and won the NL Batting Title and Derrek Lee (2004 – present) hit .335 in 2005 and won the NL Batting Title) Bill Madlock is still the All-Time Cubs Leader in career and single season batting average.

1974 – 48 major league players invoked the new arbitration procedure established to settle contract differences.

1914 – Johnny Evers (1902-1913 – Manager, 1913, 1921) declined to remain with the Cubs after being fired as the manager. Evers was traded to the Boston Braves for Bill Sweeney (1907, 1914). Evers led the Braves to the pennant during the 1914 season.

1911 – The Cubs acquired Dave Shean (1911) from Boston for Scotty Ingerton and Jeff Pfeffer (1905, 1910). This was the second time the Braves had traded for Pfeffer with the Cubs.

February 12

2003 – Federal Judge James Holderman gave the Cubs and owners of rooftop bleachers a year to settle their dispute.

1988 – The Padres traded Rich “Goose” Gossage (1988) to the Cubs for Keith Moreland (1982-1987) the deal also included 2 Minor Leaguers

1876 – Al Spalding moved from his home in Rockford, Illinois, with his brother J. Walter Spalding, to Chicago to “open a large emporium where they will sell all kinds of baseball goods.” This move would start the Spalding sporting goods enterprise.

1986 – Ron Hassey (1984) was traded back to the Yankees from the White Sox, along with 3 Minor Leaguers, for Neil Allen, Scott Bradley and Glen Braxton. Hassey was traded back to the Sox in July of 1986.

1968 – The Giants traded Tom Haller and Frank Kasheta to the Dodgers for Ron Hunt and Nate Oliver (1969)

February 14

2005 – Jucied: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, the book that opened the world’s eyes to baseball’s steroid problems was published. Jose Canseco’s book would give “proof” to what many had be speculating about baseball for nearly a decade.

1959 – The Orioles purchased Whitey Lockman (Manager, 1972-1974) from the Giants and traded him to the Reds in June for Walt Dropo

1911 – Reach introduced a cork-centered ball and the number of .300 hitters jumped from 8 in 1910 to 27 in 1911. The ERA rose from 2.53 to 3.34 in the American League

1887 – The Chicago National League Ball Club sold Mike “King” Kelly (1880-1886) to the Boston Beaneaters for $10,000. More than twice the amount ever paid for a player before.

February 15

2002 – Mike Darr, of the San Diego Padres, was killed in an early morning accident when his car rolled over in Phoenix near the team’s spring training facility. Ben Howard (NRI to Cubs spring training in 2007) survived the crash; he was sitting in the backseat wearing a seatbelt.

2001 – The Yankees signed Henry Rodriguez (1998-2000) to a 1-year contract

1990 – Major League owners refused to open the spring training camps without a new Basic Agreement with the Players’ Association. The lockout lasted 32 days and postponed the start of the regular season by one week.

1964 – Ken Hubbs (1961-1963) at the age of 22 died in a private plane crash near Provo, Utah while in route to Colton, California. Hubbs had played in 78 consecutive games without making an error during his rookie season the year before.

2004 – The New York Yankees traded Alfonso Soriano and a PTBNL to the Texas Rangers for Alex Rodriguez.

2002 – Kevin Tapani announced his retirement from baseball, ending a 13-year big league career

1953 – The Braves traded Earl Torgeson to the Phillies for Russ Meyer (1946-1948, 1956). Meyer was then traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Rocky Bridges and Jim Pendleton. Bridges was then sent to the Reds for Joe Adcock

1952 – Barry Foote, born

February 17

1976 – Scott Williamson, born

1955 – The Orioles traded Frank Kellert (1956) along with cash to the Dodgers for Erv Palica

1937 – The Yankees buy Babe Dahlgren (1941-1942) from the Red Sox

1924 – Frank Chance (1898-1912 – Manager, 1905-1912) resigned after three months of being the White Sox Manager because of illness. Johnny Evers (1902-1913 – Manager, 1913, 1921) was named acting Manager. Chance never returned and died on September 24, 1924 – (Tinker to Evers to Chance)